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Hi all,
<p>the <i>Porites</i> pink debated continued ... my two cents worth.
<p>I wrote a short article in MEPS last year (MEPS 164: 213-220, 1998 "Lesion
healing on massive <i>Porites</i> spp. corals"), see excerpt below for
relevant text. Clearly the pink colorations were not diseases but rather
active calcification areas. This then is in argeement with Cindy's and
Les's comments.
<p>From the above citation....(page 215)
<br>Regeneration commenced with an initial 2-3 mm upward growth of the
healing edge followed by lateral encroachment of soft tissue and skeleton
toward the lesion's centre within the first month. The healing edge was
a conspicuous <i><b>pink colour</b> </i>in the first month then became
pale. Macroalgae (<i>Padina</i> sp.) were common on the lesions in winter
(December) - four months after the lesions were inflicted. No macroalgae
were present after February 1995. Lesion recovery was not deterred
by filamentous or macroalgae. No evidence of grazing was seen on the lesions
throughout the study. <b><i>A pink fleck </i></b>consistently appeared
on the healing edge as it closed. The fleck turned pale one month
prior to complete healing. ...
<br>
<p>Rob van Woesik</html>